Serial robber hits two hotels in King County

A serial robber who struck eight hotels during the last month in Pierce County took his spree north on Tuesday night, according to police.

Two hotels were robbed within 90 minutes in King County, including a Marriott hotel in SeaTac and a Comfort Inn in Federal Way. In both, the robber jumped over the front counter and stole money from the till, police said.

At 8 p.m., Federal Way police were called to the Comfort Inn at 31522 Pacific Highway. The clerk saw a possible weapon in the robber’s belt, but the robber didn’t brandish it, police spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said.

The robber ran away on foot, but appeared again 90 minutes later at a Marriott on International Boulevard at 196th Street in SeaTac.

“He jumps over the counter and punches the female clerk and then steals all the money out of the till,” sheriff’s Sgt. John Urquhart said.

In the Federal Way case, the robber was described as 25 to 30, about 5 feet 11, with some facial hair. He wore a gray fur-lined jacket, a tan or light-colored “newsboy” cap, and a dark shirt and pants. He also wore light-colored gloves, Schrock said.

His spree began with a robbery Sept. 26 at a LaQuinta Inn in Tacoma. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the robber’s arrest.